Gulf1-E-Evers

Greg Evers Weekly Update for 12/17/2011

This week we received some great news for our state’s work force -  Florida’s unemployment rate  continued to drop in the month of November. Now down to 10%, it is encouraging to see that new private sector jobs are slowly but surely chipping away at our jobless rate and more Floridians are getting back to work. Even more encouraging - some of our Northwest counties are among the ones with the lowest jobless rate in our state.  Okaloosa with 7.2% and Walton with 7.3 %. I believe If we continue to cut unnecessary and burdensome governmental red tape on our businesses, we can continue to improve our job market and allow for more and more of our able workers to find a job and continue to drop the unemployment rate.

Also this week in the district, I heard from many of your friends and neighbors about the redistricting process we will be facing this coming January as we begin the 2012 Regular Session. And I also had the honor and pleasure of visiting with a great group of patriotic ladies from the Walton County Federated Republican Women during their Holiday Luncheon.  A big thank you to those of you who attended for your wonderful hospitality, input and support.

As we head into the final week before the holidays, I want to share with you all some advice I was given years ago.  The holidays aren't about gifts or rushing around, holidays aren't about stocking stuffers and parking lots or long lines - it will all get done.  The holidays are about family and joy, and no matter if you celebrate Hanukkah or Christmas - celebrate together and be thankful for your life and our freedom because there is a reason for the season.

God Bless,
Greg

Greg Evers Weekly Update for 12/10/2011

This week in Tallahassee, the Senate Reapportionment Committee voted 23-3 to go ahead with officially submitting our plans to re-draw the lines for our senate and congressional districts. The Senate and Congressional Redistricting plans are now available for an early committee vote soon after the start of the 2012 Legislative Session in January. After publishing our proposed maps last week and receiving even more feedback from the public, we were reassured that we have come up with a good, lawful product to address important needs of the voting populations of our Northwest Florida communities and entire state for the next 10 years.

Also this week, Governor Rick Scott published his proposed state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which I look forward to reviewing in more detail in the coming days. I believe that in order to help Florida’s economy, we have to focus on creating jobs and passing a sound, balanced budget with no taxes or fees once again. I am encouraged by the Governor’s proposal and I look forward to working with my fellow senators as we aim to reach our end-goals for Florida and our respective communities.

You can view the Governor's proposed budget by going to: http://letsgettowork.state.fl.us/reports/2012-Governors-Bill.pdf. For his presentation summarizing his policy and budget recommendations, go to: http://letsgettowork.state.fl.us/reports/2012-Budget-Presentation-FY-2012-13.pdf.

Greg

Greg Evers weekly update - December 2, 2011

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Santa Rosa County Commission and all of you who attended the delegation meeting last Wednesday. We are now one committee week and a little over a month away from the start of the 2012 Session. Your direction and input is still our most important driving force as we seek to tackle the major challenges facing our Northwest Florida communities and our state.

Among these, one of the most critical issues we are facing is redrawing the boundaries to define our congressional, house and senate districts for the next 10 years. We have heard from over 1,600 folks across the state on suggestions to help guide our proposed redistricting plan, which the Senate Reapportionment Committee published this week. You can view the full plan, a summary of the plan and the proposed maps by going to www.flsenate.gov/redistricting.

       
      

I believe we have come up with a good plan here, consistent with the laws and guidelines we are required to abide by in our state's Constitution throughout this process. We still need to take a vote next Tuesday, December 6, to define whether or not this plan will be submitted to the full Senate. In the meantime, if you have any interest in reviewing and giving us your thoughts on our proposal, you can do so through any of the below resources made available for feedback from the public:

   

• Calling 850-487-5757 or 855-FLA-MAPS toll free;
  
• Visiting the committee’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Senate-Reapportionment-Committee/253161261393976 (or search for “Florida Senate Reapportionment Committee”);
  
• Emailing  RedistrictFlorida@flsenate.gov;
  
• Sending a “tweet” to @Redistrict2012;
  
• Posting video feedback on the committee’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/SenateRedistricting; 
• Writing the committee at 103 Senate Office Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1100; 
• Attending the December 6 meeting in person; or,
  
• Contacting your own senator or representative.

I am looking forward to a wonderful weekend and returning to Tallahassee next week for our last round of committee meetings before Session. As always, have you any questions or issues of concern that I can be of any help with, do not hesitate to email me directly at: Greg@gregevers.com or call my office at (850) 487-5000.
       
      

Greg